Act 2 Scene 3


LENNOX Mean you his majesty?


70


MACDUFF Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight With a new Gorgon41


– Do not bid me speak;


See, and then speak yourselves. [ExeuntMACBETH and LENNOX]


Awake, awake!


Ring the alarum-bell. Murder and treason! Banquo and Donalbain! Malcolm! awake! Shake off this downy42


And look on death itself! Up, up, and see The great doom's image!44


[Bell rings] [Enter LADYMACBETH]


80


LADYMACBETH What's the business, That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley47 The sleepers of the house? Speak, speak!


MACDUFF O gentle lady,


'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak: The repetition, in a woman's ear, Would murder as it fell. [Enter BANQUO] O Banquo, Banquo,


Our royal master's murdered! LADYMACBETH


Woe, alas!


What? in our house? BANQUO


Too cruel anywhere. Dear Duff, I prithee,48 contradict thyself,


And say it is not so. [Re-enter MACBETH and LENNOX, with ROSS]


49 90


MACBETH Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessed time;49


There's nothing serious in mortality: 47 for, from this instant,


Had I…blessed time: These words are said by Macbeth to suggest his innocence to the others.The irony is that his statement is actually true.


48 prithee: pray you 47


to parley: to discuss (as in a battle conference)


sleep, death's counterfeit,43 Malcolm! Banquo!


As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites,45 To countenance46


this horror! Ring the bell.


42 downy: soothing 43


44


death’s counterfeit: i.e. sleep is a false death


great doom’s image!: the picture of the end of the world 45 sprites: spirits


46 countenance: face 41


Gorgon: a Greek mythological creature that turned anyone who looked upon it to stone


Macbeth


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